White Linen

Nope

...last year.

Denial of global warming.

That's what made it so historic.

I think these are some interesting questions proposed by the OP. GM's and draft experts/analysts do two completely different things. A GM is trying to rate/grade players, then identify their team needs and predict future needs based on collaboration with his staff for only his team. They grade the players and at the end run through some mock draft scenario's and try to figure out who may be available to them. An analyst is mainly trying to identify who will go where based mostly on team needs. Some do their mocks based on what they think will happen and others do it based on what their sources are telling them teams may do. The good analysts can breakdown a players strengths and weaknesses as good as any scout or GM. They have staffs and a lot of them know what they're talking about. A good one can also be as wrong as any scout or GM. There's, IMO, a clear difference between a mock draft done by Jeremiah, Kiper and Brandt vs MJD and Bruschi.

Yes. He's very good, he's 25 and he stays healthy. These are the exact type of players you sign long term.

Clowney

I would feel the exact opposite of how I feel now.

I think the decisions we make this year concerning WR and TE are among the most important in the last 2 decades. Cooper isn't one of the best WR's in the NFL and he's going to get paid like one. It's a tough call to show interest. The draft is also a challenge because there's such a high failure rate - however this has to be done this year and there's no question about that. I've been saying for many years that WR is the most difficult position to acquire.

Very cool that you are doing this.

Having watched 3 games - they do look like fun to attend. I find it entertaining, I like a lot of their contrasting rules, I love hearing the communication, and the play has been overall good enough to respect it. Is it ever going to capture my interest to where I plan around watching the games - absolutely not, unless they had a Buffalo team. I also think it's a great opportunity for the players. Either trying to find a way into the NFL or just loving a game they don't want to stop playing yet.

I think Beane planned it that way too.

Look forward to reading your perspective.

Have you done edge rushers and WR's? That would be really nice to read from you.

But you know they would have been enough to win one or more to quantify that not winning one with him needed to be said?

How many more would it have been without him?

I'm not saying I despise him for it but because of how it played out he does. If he cuts Kroft, it'll be because he agrees it was a mistake. We'll see. Obviously because we're in good shape with the cap it doesn't matter much but it soon will. I don't hate Smith and I'm sure if we count all the good blocks and compared them to the critical penalties, there's likely more good. I like Beane a lot but it doesn't mean we can't visit some of the players that didn't work out as we anticipate how well he'll build the roster in excellent cap health. He's drafted well but he's had some FA signings that we haven't gotten our money's worth. As the money gets spent I hope we get more than our money's worth more often.

Weak

Like I said I understand the "theory" but it didn't work. So in real time it deserves criticism. I really don't understand your contention, when saying the choices don't look promising. Just understanding why they did it doesn't negate it.

I'm speaking of throwing off balance because defenses are forcing pocket passing out of the game and IMO, the reason for the emergence of QB's needing to throw outside the confines of traditional footwork.

I suppose. I doubt that's what Vanpelt is speaking to.

I've long thought the footwork cliche is so overrated. I'm not saying it doesn't matter, so please don't attack. I'm just saying when watching today's NFL and how offensive lines change yearly for every team - clean pockets where mechanics and footwork were paramount, hardly exist. These QB's throw off balanced and on the run, most of the time. Now if there's some way to improve footwork on that, fine. 5-7 step drops, hop hop and throw, happen more rarely.

I really don't like Smith. I like the idea or theory of Kroft but McD always touts that availability is most important. I think Kroft gets cut. With all the credit we give Beane he, IMO, deserves negative criticism for these two decisions.

Trade for Diggs and draft a WR. We need to overload on offensive talent. Then watch your young QB develop.

Totally understandable.